alwood



J K. .ALWO0D.'

Fleecing Cradle.

No. 83,754. Patented Nov. 3, 1868.

BZ ZiijfC- Z Iwveaztor:

- I .ZQMUM WWW M? 3 y fittin CEQA gamut l fltiiioi. Mg W IMPROVELEENT IN FLEECING-CRADLE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. K. ALwooD, near the town of Delta, in the county of Fulton, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fleecing-Gradle-a device for holding sheep while being sheared; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription. of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1, of the drawings, is a representation of a plan view of my device;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof, and

Figure 3 is an end view of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in providing for the use of sheep-shearers a rotating and rocking table, upon which sheep maybe placed and securely held while the process of shearing is carried on.

The letter A, of the drawings, represents a pedestal, and letter B is a rotating shaft screwed therein. Said shaft has a hole at the point a, in which I place a lever, when desirable, and turn it around at will, the object being to raise or lower the devices supported thereby, to conform to the height or convenience of the operator.

Letter 0, a plate or base-board, pivoted to the top of shaft B, in the manner shown. It is held in' place on said shaft, and tightened or loosened thereon at will, bymeans of the lug 0.

Letter E is a cradle, constructed of longitudinal bars set in a concave position, as represented, and connected with the upright flanches of plate 0 by means of its middle bar, that passes through and is pivoted therein.

The letters G are circular end-pieces of the cradle.

The outermost bars .of my cradle are constructed with screw-threads thereon, in which I adjust small nuts, marked (Z. The office of these nuts and threads is to move the tying-arms, next mentioned, and hold them at any desired point on said bars.

Letters H are arms adjusted on the outer bars-of my cradle, so as to swing thereon, and also to be moved longitudinally upon said bars. They are usually constructed of one piece of metal bent around said bars, and soldered or riveted at their outer ends respectively, leaving a small space between theplates thus united, in which the lugs h are placed. and operated. These lugs h are small pieces of metal passing between the .it on zone side.

plates of arms H, and having apertures, respectively, above said arms, for the purpose of receiving the holding-springs, next mentioned.

Letters 7" are wire springs adjusted in the openings of lugs 71. They are coiled at their outercnds, as shown, and are respectively bent in the shape of loops outside of lugs it, through which the feet of sheep may be passed and securely held.

My device is operated as follows, namely:

The cradle is adjusted to suit the convenience of the operator by means of a lever at the point a. The sheep to be sheared is then placed in the cradle, lying on one side, with its feet towards the operator. 'lhe'arms H are then raised, and the feet of the sheep are secured in the loops of the springs attached to said arms, only two of the arms being used at the same time. If the sheephe a small one, the arms H are moved inward on their bars, and if it be a large one, they are adjusted to suit the case.

--The sheep being thus secured, the operator shears He then turns the sheep on its other side and fastens it to the opposite arms H, or he'may change thesheeps position by placing its head where its tail was before, and using the same tyingarms.

During this process of shearing, the cradle may be held firmly on the shaft by turning the lug 0, so as to screw it closely thereon, or it may be allowed to swing around by leaving said lug loose. I preferto have the cradle rock somewhat back and forth during the process.

hat I claim as my inventiop, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The armsH, lugs h, and springs f, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A table for sheep-shearing purposes, having pedestal A, shaft B, cradle E, plate 0, arms H, lugs O and h, nuts (1, and springs f, constructed and arranged substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above, 1 have hereunto subscribed my name, in the presence of two witnesses. o

J. K. ALWOOD.

Witnesses:

MoLLIE M. Draws, W. 0. DINIUS. 

